05 AUGUST 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Allout War if East wing attacked; MNAs list in 3 weeks:Yahya.
- Assistance from friends if US stops defence supplies.
- Mujib to face trial.
- Border seething with trouble.
- Bankers take radical decisions to meet E. Pak credit needs.
- White paper on East wing crisis tells inside story.
- Canadian mission opposes suspension of aid to Pakistan.
- Martial Law sector 6 set up.
Other Headlines:
- No aid forthcoming when asked for.
Karachi, Aug, 4 (APP): The president, general Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, has expressed his determination to transfer power to the people's representatives "as soon as possible" which according to his assessment will take three to four months.
In an interview with the representatives of the international television networks
and agencies in Karachi last Friday (July 30), the president said "He will announce
in two or three weeks the names of the East Pakistani member who will retain their
seats in the National Assembly and also of those who will not retain their seats
due to criminal or anti-
The president's 48 minute interview entitled "The president meets the networks" was telecasted to night by all the four television stations of the Pakistan Television Corporation.
Let me assure you, my firm belief for restoring power to the people's representatives remains supreme, my main task of defending the integrity of Pakistan remains supreme" the president said.
The president said that in his broadcast on June 28 he had said that the transfer of power will depend on a lot of factors.
He said as far as law and order situation in East Pakistan was concerned it was completely under control of the Pakistan Army except the border areas.
If I am left alone I shall move in the direction that my plan had set two and a half years ago when I took over" the president added.
The president regretted that the border areas in East Pakistan were seething with trouble because of the shellings from across the border.
Referring to his nation wide address on June 28 last the president said that in that broadcast he had spelled out his political plan to transfer power to the representatives of the people.
President Yahya said that he had given a fair assessment of what had happened in East Pakistan and what was likely to happen there.
President Yahya said that he was firmly determined that the resigns of Government were transferred to the people as soon as possible.
He said he had assessed it according to his own appreciation and it will take three to four months.
The president expressed the hope that majority of East Pakistan members of the Assembly will retain their seats and only a small minority will loose them for which he said by elections will be held in the normal democratic way.
The president said that although the Awami League had banned as a political party the seats won by its members in the national Assembly had not been banned barring those who committed acts of treason.
He said that he was trying to retrieve all those members who would be allowed to retain their seats and even some of those who had gone across the border and had not committed any criminal acts will be invited to come back and have their seats.
The president said that the law and order situation in East Pakistan was completely under control of Pakistan Army except for the border areas which were seething with trouble created from across the border.
President Yahya said there was intense shelling going on along the border day and night and this confrontation might lead to war.
He said that in spite of the trouble along the borders he would hold by-
The president categorically stated that Pakistan does not want war. He said wars do not solve problems, they only cause immense destruction and dislocation of human lives and the economics of the countries which go to war, he added.
President Yahya said that he had on more occasions than one declared that he was prepared to discuss matters with India at any level. He regretted that there was no response from India.
President Yahya said that Pakistan was prepared to diffuse the issue but it cannot be diffused by one side alone, He said he could not tell his army to stop firing and take it."
He said, "We do not come from a creed that believes if some body slaps on your one check turn the other " for the defence of the country". President Yahya declared Pakistan would do her best.
Asked how severe and tense was the situation along the border, the president replied that in normal time it would have meant war. He said he was watching the situation with great patience.
The president warned the world that if India had any idea of taking a chunk of East Pakistan it would mean war. He said that he hated war but for the defence of his country he would then fight and allow war and that would mean war in West Pakistan.
To another question president Yahya said that Pakistan and India were very close to war. But he said he was trying to avoid it by showing a lot of patience.
President Yahya said that wars in the world had erupted on much less circumstances.
He said that the circumstances that were prevailing today in the sub-
I think that it is basically due to the great amount of patience that I am showing and my Government is showing that we are not at war already the president said.
The president made it clear that if a war was forced on Pakistan through some action in East Pakistan then there would be a war.
DISPLACED PERSONS
"Referring to the question of the displaced persons, president Yahya said that Pakistan was keen that the people who had crossed over into India should return to their homes.
The Pakistan Government he added, had taken a number of measures to facilitate the return of these displaced persons to their homes.
The president told the news media representatives that a general amnesty had been announced and reception centres had been set up on East Pakistani borders to provide necessary facilities for the return of the displaced persons.
He said that Pakistan has welcomed the United Nations help for the resettlement of the displaced persons and accepted the proposals of the United Nations secretary General U Thant. In this connection he said that Pakistan had agreed to have United Nations observers belonging to high commissioner for refugees under the United Nations to help the displaced people to get back to their homes but the implementation of the proposal depended on their acceptance by the other side also, he added.
The president asked how can the displaced persons cross the border when shelling by field guns and mortars were going on all around them and armed infiltration was continuing.
Answering a question the president said that the majority of people coming back to Pakistan were not coming along the recognised routes because they were prevented by India from returning. These displaced persons he added, were returning to Pakistan through unrecognised routes.
The president disclosed that over one lakh displaced persons had already returned to their homes in East Pakistan and 30 to 40 percent of them were Hindus.
The president said that the figures of displaced persons as claimed by India were completely wrong. He said that the tension built up along the borders by India was a deterrent to the return of the displaced persons to their homes in East Pakistan. He said if India stopped interfering in the internal affair of the Pakistan, it would solve the problem of displaced person who will be able to return to their homes safely.
The president categorically denied the suggestion by a correspondent that people were still leaving East Pakistan for India because they felt insecure.
The president said that Pakistan Army had tried to save 70 million people of the country's Eastern wing against armed rebels who were incited by the defunct Awami League for secession.
A vast majority of the people in East Pakistan, he said, had heaved a sigh of relief that this secessionist movement and the agitation had stopped because of the intervention of Pakistan Army.
The president also described as "Utter lies" that the army had committed genocide of any kind in East Pakistan. He said this wrong impression was based on the false stories circulated by the agitation had stopped because of the intervention of Pakistan Army.
In fact, he said, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's coterie and the defunct Awami league members carried out the genocide of the people who did not agree with them. The killings, lootings, rape and arson was all done by the secessionist elements for their political reasons instigated by their friends across the border.
The president said that he was patiently watching and tolerating this in the hope of getting around to a political solution. He added that when he was convinced that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was adament he called upon the Armed Forces to act to restore the prestige of the Goverment and to protect lives of the people who were in danger.
The president denied that the intervention by Pakistan Army was pre-
The president also denied that there had been any persecution of Hindus in East Pakistan. He said, if Hindus felt insecure in East Pakistan they were made to feel that way by machination from across the border the upheaval in East Pakistan.
He said the fact is that a small band of Awami League rebels took up arms against the Government and the army fought them.
There were casualties of armed rebels which the Armed forces, in doing their duty to their nation, had to eliminate to save the rest of the population.
He said that the number of casualties had been highly exaggerated like the figures of the displaced persons. The president described both figures as completely wrong.
Economic situation
Referring to the economic situation the president said that when the crisis arose there was a tremendous cry in the world for Pakistan, to accept help.
But he said that Pakistan's point of view then was that the country should first assess her requirements. Having done that, the president said, Pakistan was still waiting for that, aid.
The president said that Pakistan could not help but think that cry for aid was not on humanitarian grounds but for something else.
The President urged the friendly countries to come forward with the aid promised four months ago which had still not come.
He said there was sufficient food in East Pakistan for three months and more was in the pipe line. He added that Pakistan needed thirty odd coasters to move the food stuff inland.
The president said that apart from China which sent three coasters, Pakistan had not received a single coaster from the rest of the world yet.
Answering a question president Yahya Khan said that he was confident of the future of Pakistan.
Commonwealth
The president agreed with a correspondent that there was a feeling in Pakistan to review her associations in the British Commonwealth, the president said that unfortunately the British, who ruled this part of the world for about two centuries instead of being neutral took a lead in attacking Pakistan. The president said that Pakistan will take a calculated decision about her association with the Commonwealth.
Answering another questions president Yahya said that Pakistan is a unique country
in the world because it was created on the ideology of Islam. He said that the demand
for a separate Muslim country in the sub-
He said all the turmoil and upheavals that the country was passing through were hardening the two wings determination to remain a united nation.
The president said that he had no doubt in his mind that Pakistan shall remain a
very strong self-
The president said that in many countries Governments had taken strong steps to control rebellion and added that it was happening in the world today. In this connection he cited the example of Northern Ireland. He said the basic fact is that no government worth its name would allow lawlessness.
The president said that he had acted in the interest of Pakistan. He asked the world press to try and appreciate Pakistan's point of view.
He said that the Government has prepared a white paper which would be issued for world consumption. This was a detailed document telling exactly what happened in East Pakistan, he added.
Karachi, Aug 4 (PPI): President Gen. Yahya Khan has declared that Pakistan would
seek assistance from "friends" if United States stopped supply of defence hardware
and cut off supplies of spare parts of non-
The president in his TV address warned that cutting of the supply of non-
He said, whenever, there was imbalance in power it was bound to lead to trouble 'So I hope my friends in America would realise this that by cutting a few spare parts they will be cutting the balance of power in the parts of the world and that will surely lead to more trouble."
The president did not agree with a correspondent that these parts might not be lethal themselves but they make tanks and aeroplanes to go.
He said "I have got an aircraft and few tanks and I want these spare parts to keep them going. This does not increase the strength of the Pakistan Armed forces. It is just helping to keep the armed force going, which are already very heavily under balance as opposed to what my neighbour has and is continuing to have."
However, the president made it clear that the United States were not giving military aid to Pakistan. After 1965 war they had stopped military aid to Pakistan.
A Correspondent asked if Pakistan would seek China's help if the USA stopped supplying, these things.
He said "why not." "They have given wonderful assistance to us, not today, not this trouble, but over the years they have helped us magnificently." he said.
The President said "I hope you will concede that every country has a right to defend itself. If some of my friends decide not to assist me, I still have some friends who would continue to assist me."
Asked if China can make up for US economic and military aid if it is cut off by that country, President Yahya replied it was not a question of comparing who can make up and who cannot. He said he will not accept aid with political strings, "China" he said "had given economic aid to Pakistan in the past and Pakistan is not going to compare who give it more. Even if it does not compare, Pakistan will have to do with less."
President challenged the statement of a questions that American military aid was being used for "repression" in East Pakistan by saying "how can a Government repress its own people." He added that by cutting off aid, United States will also be hurting the people of East Pakistan. Because aid is for the development of the people and the country as a whole."
Asked if there was any military alliance of any kind between Pakistan and China the president replied that China has been Pakistan's very dear friend, very close friend for years. Only last year, he said when he visited China, "She gave Pakistan aid worth two million dollars of which the whole has not yet been used, and have already offered more."
Karachi, Aug 4, (APP): The President general Mohammad Yahyaa Khan has said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Leader of the defunct Awami league would be put on trial.
In a television interview telecast from all stations of Pakistan Television corporation to night the president said that being a citizen of Pakistan he should be dealt with according to the law of Pakistan.
The president, who was asked what would be the fate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said that the leader fo the defunct Awami League had deviated from his election campaign in which he demanded autonomy for East Pakistan.
He said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had committed "acts of treason, acts of open rebellion" and incited armed rebellion against the state.
In reply to a question the president said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not his opponent at all. The President said that he was only a caretaker and had nothing to oppose sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a politician.
He said Sheikh Mujib was arrested for committing acts of treason and he would be dealt with under the law of the land.
The president made it clear that he had no political ambitions. He said as a soldier he was in his temporary duty of restoring the authority of the people.
The president said he was sorry for what Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had done for which he would suffer like any other person committing on the nation would suffer "how would you treat your criminal" he posed a question to the foreign news media representatives present at the interview.
The conference of the chief executives of the commercial banks held in Dacca yesterday with state Bank Governor, Mr. S.U. Durraini in the chair unanimously adopted for reaching radical decisions for expeditiously meeting the credit needs of East Pakistan.
The decisions, according to a state Bank press release, include cash subsidy to banks for credit expansion in East Pakistan, an initial Rs. 20 crore by consortium of banks, bank finance against loose jute and to small traders immediate credit limits to jute trade. State Bank's counterfinance of Rs. 50 lakhs for handloom industry and meeting all cash credit requirement of the tea sector for the next season.
The banks will finance credit expansion in East Pakistan even if it involves transfer of deposit resources from West Pakistan.
Mr. Durrani said the tendency to relate advances to deposits in East Pakistan has to be given up. The withdrawal of all selective credit restrictions, he said, should find a reflection in the commercial banks operations in East Pakistan by softening and relaxing their margin requirements.
The banks have been given specific targets of credit expansion in East Pakistan for the next six months on monthly basis. Any shortfalls in the agreed targets will attract a penalty under which the defaulting banks would deposit an amount equal to the shortfall with the State Bank which will not count towards the liquidity requirement and will not earn any interest.
At least one quarter of the additional credit would have to be by way of small loans.
Cash Subsidy
In order to enable the commercial banks to lend at reasonable rates of interest as also to offer an incentive by way of increased profitability for their operations in East Pakistan, the State Bank will operate a system whereby the banks will be offered an interest subsidy at the rate of 1 % on this increase in their lendings from July this year in East Pakistan exclusive of their loans to Government and public sector agencies under counterfinance arrangements. Banks have been asked to take care that credit is not misused for retrieval of investment in East Pakistan. All Bank— branches have not to reopened immediately. Failure to so within the prescribed time might head to cancellation of licences for those branches.
Consortium of Banks
The consortium of Banks to finance transport projects sponsored by EPIDC and East Pakistan small industries corporation will start initially with an amount of RS. 20 crores. The banks will contribute to the resource of the consortium on an agreed basis. If necessary in individual cases partial guarantees may be obtained from the Government. The State Bank will provide the banks with refinance in the light of their overall position.
The bankers unanimously agreed to sanction credit limits to Jute trade immediately. The rate of interest on advances against jute made after 1st August, 1971 will not in any case exceed the rate of last year. The Banks will provide finance against loose jute and to small traders and Beparies sponsored by the Jute Board.
Booths will be opened immediately in primary jute centres and other jute areas where banking facilities are available.
Advances against anticipated bonus vouchers can now be provided as all credit restrictions have been withdrawn from East Pakistan.
In respect of tea, Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan will rephase the retirement of development loans from the borrowers. It will so programme its operations as to meet all cash credit requirements of tea sector for the next season. Imports of spares and parts for damaged plants will be facilitated by provision of rupee funds by banks.
Handloom Industry
State Bank would sanction Rs. 50 lacs at bank rate as counter finance to banks for handloom industries.
Working capital requirements of other small industries would be assessed by EPSIC which may sponsor requests to the National Bank under people's credit scheme and to other banks as well. Banks should respond to such requests liberally.
It was also decided that arrangements should be made by banks to finance construction of organised markets by municipalities or cooperative organisations for letting out to small traders affected by recent disturbances.
An Implementation committee headed by the Deputy Governor (East Pakistan) State Bank of Pakistan has been set up to make a monthly report on the implementation of these measures to the central Directorate of State Bank of Pakistan.
Islamabad, Aug 4 (APP): The 125-
With meticulous documentation, it traces the escalation of the Awami league's mandate for autonomy to bid for secession and describes how the party's hardcore leadership sought to carry out its designs through constitutional contrivances, organisational terror and Indian collusion.
The white paper unfolds the magnitude of the massacres carried out by the Awami league
troopers against all those who dared dis-
Islamabad, Aug 4 (APP): A Canadian mission which toured Pakistan some time ago has recommended that Canadian aid to Pakistan should not be suspended under any circumstance, it is learnt.
The mission disclosed it at a press conference they addressed in Ottawa after they had submitted a report to their Government on their tour impressions of Pakistan and India. The members of the delegation were Messers Lachanse, Macqurree and Brewin.
They maintained that political structure in a country was always an internal mater and this applied to Pakistan as well. The issue of refugees had wider implications but the effort to apply pressure through withholding of aid was not necessarily effective. "History records some significant and painful failures of such techniques of international persuasion."
The parliamentarians said it was true that Indian sources were under strain due to refugee influx but it was not their view that a total cessation of aid to Pakistan by Canada would be an appropriate or useful response to present situation. They must not forget the needs as many East Pakistan residents who remained in that troubled land. It will be realistic and commendable if Canadian aid could be channeled to people of East Pakistan who are victims of existing situation.
They referred to the report by Pakistan Government to the United Nations in which the need for food and coasters had been highlighted. The delegation called for immediate commitment by Canada of substantial sums to meet this need in East Pakistan.
They said that during their talks with president Yahya, he had indicated his readiness to talk at any time or any place with Prime Minister of India "Believing that consultation is generally preferable to confrontation. We transmitted president's indication to Indian Government representatives. It would appear however that there is little prospect of such a meeting."
The Pakistan president they said, also expressed his willingness to have United Nations personnel in his country to assist in establishing a climate of confidence for returnees. "We regard this as a positive factor and one which should be reported to world community."
Mentioning the tension between the two countries they maintained that war could not possibly be a solution and would indeed aggravate the problems of people of both countries including the refugees.
They hope international community will exert itself to avoid anything which would exacerbate an already dangerous situation.
Concluding they called for setting aside of substantial funds for provision of needed supplies of foodgrains, edible oil and transportation facilities for East Pakistan.
A New Martial Law sector 6 comprising Dacca district has been set up with Headquarters at Dacca, according to Martial law order No. 162 issued from the Headquarters of Martial law administrator, zone 'B' the other day.
Following is the text of MLO 162:-
"Martial Law zone 'B' order No. 150 dated 7 June 71 is further amended as follows, namely:
On the aforesaid order in paragraph
1. a. in sub paragraph "a"
(1) in sub sub paragraph (1) for the words "Less Faridpur District" read "Less Dacca and Faridpur Districts."
(2) in sub sub paragraph (3), under the heading "sub sectors," items "(a)"
relating to sub sector -
b. after sub paragraph "e" the following sub paragraph "f".
Shall be added:
"f" sector -
(1) Entire areas comprising Dacca District of the Civil Division of Dacca.
(2) Headquarters -
(3) Sub sectors -
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